Since creating the program, EIF has provided corporate training for over 5,200 scholars, and placed 2,185 scholars into prestigious intern opportunities. After annually refining each of the strategic goals, students in the MIFP have performed exceptionally well. Of the 1,398 students that have gone through the program, over 85% of them are currently enrolled in college. Additionally, over 94% of intern fellows were better prepared for their careers after the intern program’s completion. Equally as important is of those 4,900 scholars that went through EIF’s workforce development training, over 4,700 of them felt like they were better prepared to enter their post-secondary careers.

Listen to our community partners:

“We had a great Mayors Intern Fellows experience. There were a lot of high quality students to choose from and we were very pleased with our intern. He was on time, on task, quick to learn and a really nice person. We think the experience our intern had this summer made a positive impression on him.”
-Erik Nystrom, Alon USA

“Education Is Freedom and the Dallas Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program are experts at making the entire internship process easy for both the interns and the organization. There is consistent communication and a willingness to make sure that the students, the company, and their partnership benefit all parties involved”
-Kevin Frick, Omni Hotels

“For nearly eight years, Balfour Beatty Construction has partnered with the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program to inspire students to pursue careers in the construction industry. MIFP has been a catalyst for ensuring a diverse and sustainable workforce. Interns work side by side with talented members of our construction management teams gaining practical learning experiences on projects like Parkland Hospital that will be valuable during their collegiate years and into their professional careers.

Our interns are not the only ones to gain from this experience. Every intern brings a fresh perspective, is dedicated and laser focused on immersing themselves in all that the internship has to offer. Our recent interns are among the most technologically advanced students. It’s a great reminder to be innovators and thought leaders.”
-Kamecia Lambert, Balfour Beatty Construction

“Ernst & Young has been introduced to some exceptional young people through the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program – and we have experienced the joy of introducing them to the business world in roles at EY and at local non-profit organizations. While supporting and teaming with EY professionals, our interns have learned skills, gained confidence, and discovered new possibilities for their future. This program provides an outstanding opportunity for our people to positively impact the next generation and advance Ernst & Young’s purpose of building a better working world.”
-Debr Von Storch, Ernst & Young LLP

History of the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program®

As the EIF High School Program continued to thrive, in 2008, EIF had a burning desire to do more for its students. Through surveys, EIF learned that one of the largest disconnects between students and their academic pursuits was the lack of correlation between the two. In other words, students needed more tangible learning experiences to see the relevance in their academic endeavors. To address the needs of the students, as well as the growing needs of the corporate community, EIF created the Mayor’s Intern Fellows Program. (MIFP)

Starting with just an idea and support from the mayor, EIF began researching intern program best practices in an effort to build the most effective internship program in the world. After talking to representatives in Washington D.C. and reviewing the White House Fellows Program, EIF began meticulously designing an intern program that would meet the needs of the students' full of potential and excitement, while also fulfilling a critical workforce gap that was seemingly growing worse annually. Understanding that collaboration was necessary for ideal program success, EIF began working with the City of Dallas, where the mayor began recruiting companies to participate in his initiative.

After months of planning, EIF rolled out the MIFP in 2008. Initially, only students in EIFs’ three high schools were eligible for the program. However, due to Mayor Mike Rawlings unyielding support to help all students, the program in 2012 quickly ballooned to 35 high schools, representing all public high schools in the City of Dallas. Aligning with the White House Fellows Program, EIF ensured the following occurred to establish quality programming for the student and the company:

Developed workforce readiness curriculum, built on corporate feedback and suggestions

Established high participation requirements ensuring exceptional students

Asked companies to pay students a salary to demonstrate real life circumstances

Mandated companies to provide meaningful work experiences to students

Worked with executives to establish mentor relationships with students

Included a civic engagement component to giving back to our Dallas community

Exposed students to a variety of fields, helping to secure their postsecondary path